H.3700 “An Act Relative to the Licensing of Firearms for Persons 70 years of Age or Older”

Filed by State Representative William "Smitty" Pignatelli, of the Fourth Berkshire District. This bill has started moving through the legislative process. The bill was filed by Rep. Pignatelli in an attempt to correct yet another poorly written piece of Massachusetts gun laws. In this case the law was intended to provide persons 70 and over with a no cost renewal. The problem with the current language in the law is that it states: “Any person over the age of 70...” Some licensing authorities insist that in order to get a free renewal that “over the age of 70” actually means 71.

Originall listed as H.653, the bill was sent to the House Committee on Ways and Means and had a minor technical amendment. The new bill number is H.3700. GOAL would like to further amend the bill as currently it only pertains to Licenses to Carry. We would also like the bill to amend the FID card statute. The bill now resides in the House Committee on Bills in the Third Reading.